Video Number - 11.a.72
Title: Wireless Connectivity
Summary: In this video i show how wireless connectivity has evolved over the years, i dont really show what it will look like in the future, but anyway...enjoy!
Vienna International School
Producer - Stephanie S
Video Number - 11.a.73
Title - "Welcome wireless"
Summary - It is about the design and innovation of cellphones. The newest futurist version is the M. Phone which is a phone made up of a mouthpiece and earpieces. To get them clear, it will cost you, but it's worth it.
URL -http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHqFgA3gVNU
Location - LACHSA.
Producer- Tristan
Video Number - 11.a.74 Title: Wireless connectivity Summary: I am standing in front of a green screen giving a presentation of wireless connectivity. URL -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgDj50zAr1s Location - Westwood
Video Number - 11.b.76
My topic is Wireless Connectivity and my subtopic is Story and Empathy. I created a video talking about how 2 best friends keep in touch even though one of them is in Europe and the other one is in China. This story tells the viewers about how important wireless is and how it is playing a major role in our lives. Location: Shanghai American School, Shanghai, China Outsourced Video Segment Producer: KOH, Cassie, PLK (2007) , Australia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4hoFDhmECg
Video Number - 11.c.78 Title - Wireless Connectivity Location - Vienna International School Summary - In this video you can see how wireless connectivity is used in our everyday lives URL- http://flatclassroomproject.wikispaces.com/wireless_connectivity Location- Vienna, Austria
Producer - Sumner
Video Number - 11.c.79 Title: Can you see me now? Summary: My video shows how people can use wireless connectivity through video on their cell phones. Verizon wireless shows in their commercial how people talk over their cell phone saying "Can you hear me now?". In my video I show people connecting wireless by using their cell phone talking to one another in using video. URL -http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k139/sumner25/?action=view&current=Canyouseemenow.flv Location - Westwood Schools, USA
Producer - Deanna R. Title - "Wireless At Home" Summary - This video is about the many uses of wireless connectivity at home. URL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0cTh8U1e_w Location - Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
What is Wireless Connectivity?
Wireless Connectivity - Wireless connectivity involves all the new wireless devices and technology. It brings in all the new ways of collaboration, mobile, so that now we can manipulate, share and shape our digital content from anywhere, with anyone, without attachments.
Wireless can be divided into some groups, such as:
fixed wireless -- the operation of wireless devices or systems in homes and offices, and in particular, equipment connected to the Internet via specialized modems
Mobile wireless -- the use of wireless devices or systems aboard motorized, moving vehicles; examples include the automotive cell phone and PCS (personal communications services)
Portable wireless -- the operation of autonomous, battery-powered wireless devices or systems outside the office, home, or vehicle; examples include handheld cell phones and PCS units
IR wireless -- the use of devices that convey data via IR (infrared) radiation; employed in certain limited-range communications and control systems
to enable communication between devices in a limited area, also known as the basic service set.
This gives users the mobility to move around within a broad coverage area and still be connected to the network.
Wireless Network Types
When we look at Wi-Fi specifically, which is what most of the jobs out there pertain to today, and the newest and hottest technology, there are 4 major types of wireless choices.1999 - 802.11b
As of right now, 802.11b costs the least, and is the type that is most common on college campuses, homes and businesses. Has a range of about 150 feet, and transfers at 11 Mbps @ 2.4 GHz. 32 users per access point. (LOTS OF AP's for COLLEGES). AP: $55-160 Card: $30-90. 2001 - 802.11a
Not compatible with 802.11b, range of 75 feet. 64 users per access point. Not widely used. Mostly used in large corporations, where many users can access a AP in a small area. AP: $100-130 Card: $100. 2003 - 802.11g
Backwards compatible with 802.11b, 64 users per 'g' access point. G AP's have a range of 150 feet. 'G' spots are not very popular since the technology is new, but the g card can be used at 802.11b spots. Big Benefit. AP: $130-200 Card: $80-130. 2003 - 802.11a/g
[a/g spots have the largest load of 128 users per AP. The a/g card is backwards compatible with b, a, and g since it houses all the technologies in one card. a/g spots are rare, but the card is backwards compatible with every Wi-Fi technology. Most expensive technology, but well worth it. AP: $300 Card: $100]
- Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a radio standard and communications protocol primarily designed for low power consumption, with a short range (power class dependent: 1 metre, 10 metres, 100 metres) based around low-cost transceivermicrochips in each device. Bluetooth lets these devices communicate with each other when they are in range. The devices use a radio communications system, so they do not have to be in line of sight of each other, and can even be in other rooms, so long as the received transmission is powerful enough.
Bluetooth is in a variety of new products such as phones, printers, modems, GPS and headsets. Bluetooth is used for situations when two or more devices are close to each other and don't require high bandwidth. Bluetooth is most commonly used with phones and hand-held computing devices, either using a Bluetooth headset or transferring files from phones/PDAs to computers. For example sending a photo to your friend. Since Bluetooth uses short-range radio frequencies, it is not as effective for setting up networks that can be accessed from remote locations as Wi-Fi is. Bluetooth also simplified the discovery and setup of services. Wi-Fi is more analogous to the traditional Ethernet network and requires configuration to set up shared resources, transmit files, set up audio links (e.g. headsets and hands-free devices), whereas Bluetooth devices advertise all services they actually provide; this makes the utility of the service that much more accessible, without the need to worry about network addresses, permissions and all the other considerations that go with typical networks.
- GPS
24 satellites in orbit
Short for (Global Positioning System), GPS is a satellite-based navigational system. It consists of 24 satellites orbiting around Earth every 12 hours, which transmits signal information to our Earth. Owned and developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, it was originally designed and used as a navigational aid for the military, but now is made available as a public service for people all around the world.
GPS on Nokia 6110
GPS works in any weather conditions, 24 hours a day and anywhere in the world (except for impossible to reach signals i.e. inside most buildings, caves, underwater.
Its main purposes include:
the ability to track where you are
finding your way to a specific location
knowing what direction and how fast you are going
Mobiles that incorporate GPS allow a driver to keep track of where he or she is and suggest the best route to follow to reach a designated location. It is also known as a useful tool for mapmaking, land surveying, commerce, and scientific uses.
Mobile phones and the network they use changes significantly from provider to provider, and nation to nation. However, all of them communicate through electromagnetic radio waves with a cell site base station, the antennas of which are usually mounted on a tower, pole, or building.
The phones have a low-power transceiver that transmits voice and data to the nearest cell sites, usually 5 to 8 miles (approximately 8 to 13 kilometres) away. When the cellular phone or data device is turned on, it registers with the mobile telephone exchange, or switch, with its unique identifiers, and will then be alerted by the mobile switch when there is an incoming telephone call. The handset constantly listens for the strongest signal being received from the surrounding base stations. As the user moves around the network, the mobile device will "handoff" to various cell sites during calls, or while waiting (idle) between calls it will reselect cell sites. Cell sites have relatively low-power (often only one or two watts) radio transmitters which broadcast their presence and operate communications between the mobile handsets and the switch. The switch in turn connects the call to another subscriber of the same wireless service provider or to the public telephone network, which includes the networks of other wireless carriers.
The dialogue between the handset and the cell site is a stream of digital data that includes digitized audio (except for the first generation analog networks). The technology that achieves this depends on the system which the mobile phone operator has used.
- VOIP Voice over Internet Protocol, also called VoIP, IP Telephony, Internet telephony, Broadbandtelephony, Broadband Phone and Voice overBroadband is the routing of voice conversations over the internet or through any other IP-based network. Voice over IP protocols carry telephony signals as digital audio, typically reduced in data rate using speech data compression techniques, collected in a data packet stream over IP.
Skype users can make telephone calls and video calls through their computer using Skype software and the internet. The basis of the system is free communication between users of Skype software; however the product also allows Skype users to communicate with users of regular landline and cell phones. This software is currently available free of charge and can be downloaded from the company website, but the software is proprietary and the Skype protocol is unpublished.
The main difference between Skype and other VoIP clients is that Skype operates on a peer-to-peer model, rather than the more traditional server-client model. The Skype user directory is entirely decentralised and distributed among the nodes in the network, which means the network can scale very easily to large sizes (currently just over 100 million users) without a complex and costly centralised infrastructure.
Skype also routes calls through other Skype members on the network to ease the traversal of Symmetric NATs and firewalls. This, however, puts an extra burden on those who connect to the Internet without NAT, as their computers and network bandwidth may be used to route the calls of other users.
Wireless Internet/fixed wireless
Wireless Internet is now provided by hundreds of Internet service providers. They either install a little dish or a high tower with a radio for a point to point link so that there is internet access where it is difficult or expensive to install wired connections. Wireless connections also make it easier since they do not have to install wires for every residence or office. Other companies also use wirelesss to create an intranet between their offices. An example of a system would be the motorola canopy. Many Cellphone companies use these fixed wireless devices to connect between their remote towers to main data centers or offices.
Background
Development of wireless connectivity for Australia, Qatar and the USA (Internet and mobile devices)
Australia
Even though Australia has a small inhabitance, they have surprisingly good cell phone service. Like most countries, Australia uses GSM service to provide cell phone users with cellular capability. This standard allows fantastic reception and offers many advanced cellphone capabilities such as internet access and GPRS. As for coverage where there are people or major access roads, there will also be cell phone coverage. In Australia, this generally means that there is very good coverage all along the country's coastal region. However, even with the relatively few interior towns and cities you will find cellular service.
Qatar
New and advance technologies are quiet new to Qatar since it's still considered as a developping nation. However, the developments in the communication sector is rapidly improving and getting better everyday. Although there's only one internet operator in Qatar, the services and progress had greatly altered since it was first launched in 1998. The latest and most advance feature that was introduced by Q-tel was during the Doha Asian Games when the company inaugurated "Asian Games Mobile Portal" which was a package included with entertainment facilities and updated information about the Asian Games.
USA
In the past, very few things have been wireless. The garage door and controller, created in the mid 1950's, was a simple reciever and transmitter. It used a coding and decoding system; however, more complex wireless objects have been utilized recently, like the cell phone. In the United States, most wireless phone companies provide a wireless connection to any body, anywhere. The most effective companies, such as Sprint, Verizon or Cingular, offer features such as wireless internet, e-mail, t exting, picture mail, and, of course, phone calls, both nationa and world wide. All of these features are available on devices such as cell phones, tablets, and all-in-ones in which there is a regular cellular phone setup with a keyboard built in. Phones are begginning to morph into small portable computers.
Wireless connectivity also pertains to connections without a person’s need to perform an action. RFID tags allow the wearer to be identified and positioned from anywhere. Today, these tags are used in anti-theft devices used in stores, for personal uses, and are now being introduced into travel. Though expensive, RFID tags have even been offered to be used in houses. When a person enters a room, the tag is read by a computer and the settings in the room, such as music, temperature, and lighting, are changed to fit that person’s needs. In travel, airports are beginning to use these tags for the movement of luggage.
Wireless connectivity is becoming more and more demanding as technology improves. The basis for the growth of this area of technology is mainly based on one concept: people want to do whatever they want, wherever they want. Being “connected” to everyone and everything is basically the concept of wireless connectivity.
Examples of current use and trends in this area
Bangladesh
The mobile phone industry in Bangladesh is growing rapidly, and is making a significant contribution to economic development and employment generation. The number of mobile subscribers increased to 11 million in 2006, from 3.85 million in 2004, registering an impressive growth of 186%. Consequently, the country’s mobile telecom density went up to 6.7% from 2.75% during these few years. Among the five companies that are currently operating, Grameen Phone (in partnership with Telenor of Norway), which has the highest market share, more than doubled its customer base to over 6 million during this period. Other companies, which include Aktel, Banglalink, CityCell, and Teletalk, also experienced robust growth in terms of number of subscribers and customer revenue. A sixth operator, Warid Telecom, is preparing to enter the market after obtaining an operating license in December 2005. Telenor, Telekom Malaysia (TM), Orascom, Sing Tel, and UAE based Warid Telecom are amongst the main foreign companies that have invested in the mobile phone sector in Bangladesh. Despite rapid growth in the subscriber base in the past three years, there is still substantial scope for growth in the mobile industry as some 93% of the Mobile phone market growing rapidly population still do not subscribe to a mobile phone service. Indeed, industry analysts expect that the total number of cellular phone subscribers will double to over 20 million by 2007.
Below is a video with a cellphone user in Bangladesh
Cell Phones:
Operators
Description
Subscribers
Connection Type
First and largest GSM Mobile company in Bangladesh having nation wide service coverage.
Over 6 million
GSM 900
Government owned Teletalk limited starts its journey as the 5th mobile phone operator in the telecom arena of Bangladesh, creating huge enthusiasm and jubilation among the masses.
Over 0.2 million
GSM 900
Nation wide mobile phone operator. Banglalink aims to understand peoples needs best and develop appropriate communication services to improve peoples life and make it simple.
Over 1.5 million
GSM 900
Actel is a mobile operator in Bangladesh which concentrates on offering GSM communication services for private and corporate customer. Our intention is to promote the wireless lifestyle -the complete mobile society.
Over 2.6 million
GSM 900
Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Limited, Pioneer in Cellular Phones in the subcontinent.
Over 0.5 million
CDMA
RanksTel is one of the new PSTN Operators in Bangladesh. It has been awarded licence to operate initially in North-East and South-East zones of the country.
N/A
N/A
Planned to deploy nationwide network by December 2006.
N/A
GSM 1800
Wireless LAN and Internet -
GrameenPhone, the largest mobile phone company in Bangladesh, pioneered a successful project to bring mobile phones to the country's villages and is now moving on to providing Internet access. After a successful pilot project, the company decided this month to set up 500 Internet access points, which it is calling community information centers, across Bangladesh by year-end.
The announcement came a week after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Grameen Bank, the parent company of one of GrameenPhone's two corporate owners. The other is Telenor, the Norwegian telecommunications company.
The centers will be run by local entrepreneurs who will either invest their own money or be given access to small loans to cover set-up costs, which GrameenPhone estimates will be $800 to $1,400. The centers will be positioned to serve 15 villages and about 40,000 people and will have a computer, a Web cam, a printer, a scanner and other basic equipment. The Internet access will come by way of a connection to GrameenPhone's GSM mobile phone network, which can download data at about 128 kilobits per second, not quite broadband but faster than a dial-up connection.
USA
U.S. wireless companies are nearly all the same. Most wireless companies work off of two types of cellular towers. A combination all of the coverages of one type of tower across the nation forms a coverage area. The main competition between these companies, along with features and options, is having the most effective coverage over the most area.
Operator
Description
January of 2007 Cingular was bought by AT&T. At the end of June they released the iPhone. AT&T/Cingular are best known for having the fewest dropped calls of any network and uses this as their main marketing base.Napster and AT&T have announced a deal to bring Napster's catalog to AT&T wireless subscribers. Now, some users can download songs over the air -- meaning no computer, no wires, nothing. This Napster deal allows wireless downloads over the AT&T network.
Alltel is a company that has recently formed a calling plan called "My Circle" that allows a member to choose ten friends that he can call anytime for free regardless of the network that those people are on. Having one of the largest networks in the country, Alltel's phones are some of the most effective in rural areas.
Verizon is a large company that provides every style of the newest phonesand offers a large coverage area. Their most used promotion is their "Network," allowing all members to call any other member for free. The large selection of Motorola phones that are offered by Verizon make its network one of the most effective in wireless conectivity.
T-Mobile is a network with no special features exept that they offer planswith more available minutes than most other networks. Their slogan, "GetMore" is derived from this offer. Recently, though, T-Mobile has begun tooffer a feature similar to Alltel's allowing a member of the T-Moblie network to choose five friends to call for free regardless of their networks.
Sprint is a company combined with Nextel. There are not very many outstanding features that Sprint has over other networks. One difference though is that Sprint's selection of devices is made by mostly Samsung. Sprint and Nextel is basically one company with two names.
Nextel is a company that has been combined with Sprint. The main feature that Nextel uses for sales promotion are their famous walkie-talkie features on their phones. Even though Nextel uses Motorola phones, they offer different types than Cingular, Alltel, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
Cellularsouth is one of the most reliable companies on the market. It has the best service you can get. Cellularsouth has the true Nationwide plan. Unlimated calls, text, e-mail, web, anywhere, anyone, anyway, anytime, no overage charges, anywhere in the country all for one flat rate. Anywhere in the United States and Canada, only 60 bucks a month, 5 extra dollars for text and 30 extra dollars to add someone to your plan. Cheap, affordable, inexpensive, and so worth it!
Videos
Atif's Video, International School Dhaka
Personal Video about cellphones in Bangladesh and the use of wireless connectivity in education.
Current News
Taxing VOIP
It has recently proposed that VOIP service providers such as Vonage, Skype and others begin paying 10.9 percent of 65 percent of their income into the USF will be taxed. Networks like Skype and Vonage, which overall collects about $7 billion from interstate and international calls, is used to lessen the cost of providing phone services to poor customers unable to pay phone bills. At the same time, the proposal also includes raising the rate at which wireless carriers pay into the fund. While they currently pay based on 28.5 percent of their incomes, the percentage would increase to 37.1 percent under the new proposal. Although it's impossible to measure how much of their VOIP calls represent interstate calls, the VOIP service providers say 65 percent is far from the mark. It is not certain how much VOIP services will cost, but by passing through the rate alone to customers it could amount to about $1.77 per month for an average $25 monthly cost. These calculations do not even include how much it will cost to install the call tracking and billing systems. Pies says, "Adding VOIP and [increasing] wireless won't come near filling that hole, The number of VOIP subscribers is incredibly small compared to DSL and there will be a significant lag time for VOIP providers to get the systems in place to enable them to make these contributions." Many people bought VOIP services because they were less expensive, but now since VOIP will be taxed it will become less used. They are going to have to have flexible billing systems for all kinds of reasons, the same as other phone services.
Table of Contents
Digital Stories
A - Design and Innovation
Design and Innovation InstructionsProducer - Maria O
Video Number - 11.a.72Title: Wireless Connectivity
Summary: In this video i show how wireless connectivity has evolved over the years, i dont really show what it will look like in the future, but anyway...enjoy!
Vienna International School
Producer - Stephanie S
Video Number - 11.a.73Title - "Welcome wireless"
Summary - It is about the design and innovation of cellphones. The newest futurist version is the M. Phone which is a phone made up of a mouthpiece and earpieces. To get them clear, it will cost you, but it's worth it.
URL -http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHqFgA3gVNU
Location - LACHSA.
Producer - Tristan
Video Number - 11.a.74Title: Wireless connectivity
Summary: I am standing in front of a green screen giving a presentation of wireless connectivity.
URL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgDj50zAr1s
Location - Westwood
B - Story and Empathy
Story and Empathy InstructionsProducer - Cassie K
Video Number - 11.b.75Title: Wireless connectivity
Summary: Wireless connectivity in Australia
URL - http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=6c9aa0345824df34c0d8
Location - PLC, Melbourne, Australia
Producer: Victoria Gu
Video Number - 11.b.76My topic is Wireless Connectivity and my subtopic is Story and Empathy. I created a video talking about how 2 best friends keep in touch even though one of them is in Europe and the other one is in China. This story tells the viewers about how important wireless is and how it is playing a major role in our lives.
Location: Shanghai American School, Shanghai, China
Outsourced Video Segment Producer: KOH, Cassie, PLK (2007) , Australia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4hoFDhmECg
Producer - Amir N
Video Number - 11.b.77Location: Doha. Qatar
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex3yccNccmI
Outsourced Video Segment Producer: Cassie, PLC Australia
C - The Fun Factor (Play)
The Fun Factor (Play) InstructionsProducer - Eliza U
Video Number - 11.c.78Title - Wireless Connectivity
Location - Vienna International School
Summary - In this video you can see how wireless connectivity is used in our everyday lives
URL- http://flatclassroomproject.wikispaces.com/wireless_connectivity
Location- Vienna, Austria
Producer - Sumner
Video Number - 11.c.79Title: Can you see me now?
Summary: My video shows how people can use wireless connectivity through video on their cell phones. Verizon wireless shows in their commercial how people talk over their cell phone saying "Can you hear me now?". In my video I show people connecting wireless by using their cell phone talking to one another in using video.
URL - http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k139/sumner25/?action=view&current=Canyouseemenow.flv
Location - Westwood Schools, USA
Producer - Deanna R.
Title - "Wireless At Home"
Summary - This video is about the many uses of wireless connectivity at home.
URL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0cTh8U1e_w
Location - Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
What is Wireless Connectivity?Wireless Connectivity - Wireless connectivity involves all the new wireless devices and technology. It brings in all the new ways of collaboration, mobile, so that now we can manipulate, share and shape our digital content from anywhere, with anyone, without attachments.
Wireless can be divided into some groups, such as:
- Wireless LAN
- A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area network, which is the linking of two or more computers without using wires.
- WLAN utilizes spread-spectrum technology based on radio waves
to enable communication between devices in a limited area, also known as the basic service set.Wireless Network Types
- When we look at Wi-Fi specifically, which is what most of the jobs out there pertain to today, and the newest and hottest technology, there are 4 major types of wireless choices.1999 - 802.11b
- As of right now, 802.11b costs the least, and is the type that is most common on college campuses, homes and businesses. Has a range of about 150 feet, and transfers at 11 Mbps @ 2.4 GHz. 32 users per access point. (LOTS OF AP's for COLLEGES). AP: $55-160 Card: $30-90. 2001 - 802.11a
- Not compatible with 802.11b, range of 75 feet. 64 users per access point. Not widely used. Mostly used in large corporations, where many users can
access a AP in a small area. AP: $100-130 Card: $100. 2003 - 802.11g - Backwards compatible with 802.11b, 64 users per 'g' access point. G AP's have a range of 150 feet. 'G' spots are not very popular since the technology is new, but the g card can be used at 802.11b spots. Big Benefit. AP: $130-200 Card: $80-130. 2003 - 802.11a/g
[a/g spots have the largest load of 128 users per AP. The a/g card is backwards compatible with b, a, and g since it houses all the technologies in one card. a/g spots are rare, but the card is backwards compatible with every Wi-Fi technology. Most expensive technology, but well worth it. AP: $300 Card: $100]- Bluetooth
Bluetooth is in a variety of new products such as phones, printers, modems, GPS and headsets. Bluetooth is used for situations when two or more devices are close to each other and don't require high bandwidth. Bluetooth is most commonly used with phones and hand-held computing- GPS
GPS works in any weather conditions, 24 hours a day and anywhere in the world (except for impossible to reach signals i.e. inside most buildings, caves, underwater.
Its main purposes include:
- the ability to track where you are
- finding your way to a specific location
- knowing what direction and how fast you are going
Mobiles that incorporate GPS allow a driver to keep track of where he or she is and suggest the best route to follow to reach a designated location. It is also known as a useful tool for mapmaking, land surveying, commerce, and scientific uses.- Cell Phones
A mobile or cellular telephone is a long-range, portable electronic device for personal telecommunications over long distances.
Mobile phones and the network they use changes significantly from provider to provider, and nation to nation. However, all of them communicate through electromagnetic radio waves with a cell site base station, the antennas of which are usually m
The phones have a low-power transceiver that transmits voice and data to the nearest cell sites, usually 5 to 8 miles (approximately 8 to 13 kilometres) away. When the cellular phone or data device is turned on, it registers with the mobile telephone exchange, or switch, with its unique identifiers, and will then be alerted by the mobile switch when there is an incoming telephone call. The handset constantly listens for the strongest signal being received from the surrounding base stations. As the user moves around the network, the mobile device will "handoff" to various cell sites during calls, or while waiting (idle) between calls it will reselect cell sites.
Cell sites have relatively low-power (often only one or two watts) radio transmitters which broadcast their presence and operate communications between the mobile handsets and the switch. The switch in turn connects the call to another subscriber of the same wireless service provider or to the public telephone network, which includes the networks of other wireless carriers.
The dialogue between the handset and the cell site is a stream of digital data that includes digitized audio (except for the first generation analog networks). The technology that achieves this depends on the system which the mobile phone operator has used.
- VOIP
Voice over Internet Protocol, also called VoIP, IP Telephony, Internet telephony, Broadband
Skype users can make telephone calls and video calls through their computer using Skype software and the internet. The basis of the system is free communication between users of Skype software; however the product also allows Skype users to communicate with users of regular landline and cell phones. This software is currently available free of charge and can be downloaded from the company w
The main difference between Skype and other VoIP clients is that Skype operates on a peer-to-peer model, rather than the more traditional server-client model. The Skype user directory is entirely decentralised and distributed among the nodes in the network, which means the network can scale very easily to large sizes (currently just over 100 million users) without a complex and costly centralised infrastructure.
Skype also routes calls through other Skype members on the network to ease the traversal of Symmetric NATs and firewalls. This, however, puts an extra burden on those who connect to the Internet without NAT, as their computers and network bandwidth may be used to route the calls of other users.
Wireless Internet/fixed wireless
Wireless Internet is now provided by hundreds of Internet service providers. They either install a little dish or a high tower with a radio for a point to point link so that there is internet access where it is difficult or expensive to install wired connections. Wireless connections also make it easier since they do not have to install wires for every residence or office. Other companies also use wirelesss to create an intranet between their offices. An example of a system would be the motorola canopy. Many Cellphone companies use these fixed wireless devices to connect between their remote towers to main data centers or offices.Background
Development of wireless connectivity for Australia, Qatar and the USA (Internet and mobile devices)
Australia
Even though Australia has a small inhabitance, they have surprisingly good cell phone service. Like most countries, Australia uses GSM service to provide cell phone users with cellular capability. This standard allows fantastic reception and offers many advanced cellphone capabilities such as internet access and GPRS. As for coverage where there are people or major access roads, there will also be cell phone coverage. In Australia, this generally means that there is very good coverage all along the country's coastal region. However, even with the relatively few interior towns and cities you will find cellular service.Qatar
New and advance technologies are quiet new to Qatar since it's still considered as a developping nation. However, the developments in the communication sector is rapidly improving and getting better everyday. Although there's only one internet operator in Qatar, the services and progress had greatly altered since it was first launched in 1998. The latest and most advance feature that was introduced by Q-tel was during the Doha Asian Games when the company inaugurated "Asian Games Mobile Portal" which was a package included with entertainment facilities and updated information about the Asian Games.
USA
In the past, very few things have been wireless. The garage door and controller, created in the mid 1950's, was a simple reciever and transmitter. It used a coding and decoding system; however, more complex wireless objects have been utilized recently, like the cell phone. In the United States, most wireless phone companies provide a wireless connection to any body, anywhere. The most effective companies, such as Sprint, Verizon or Cingular, offer features such as wireless internet, e-mail, t exting, picture mail, and, of course, phone calls, both nationa and world wide. All of these features are available on devices such as cell phones, tablets, and all-in-ones in which there is a regular cellular phone setup with a keyboard built in. Phones are begginning to morph into small portable computers.Wireless connectivity also pertains to connections without a person’s need to perform an action. RFID tags allow the wearer to be identified and positioned from anywhere. Today, these tags are used in anti-theft devices used in stores, for personal uses, and are now being introduced into travel. Though expensive, RFID tags have even been offered to be used in houses. When a person enters a room, the tag is read by a computer and the settings in the room, such as music, temperature, and lighting, are changed to fit that person’s needs. In travel, airports are beginning to use these tags for the movement of luggage.
Wireless connectivity is becoming more and more demanding as technology improves. The basis for the growth of this area of technology is mainly based on one concept: people want to do whatever they want, wherever they want. Being “connected” to everyone and everything is basically the concept of wireless connectivity.
Examples of current use and trends in this area
Bangladesh
Below is a video with a cellphone user in Bangladesh
Cell Phones:
Wireless LAN and Internet -
GrameenPhone, the largest mobile phone company in Bangladesh, pioneered a successful project to bring mobile phones to the country's villages and is now moving on to providing Internet access. After a successful pilot project, the company decided this month to set up 500 Internet access points, which it is calling community information centers, across Bangladesh by year-end.
The announcement came a week after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Grameen Bank, the parent company of one of GrameenPhone's two corporate owners. The other is Telenor, the Norwegian telecommunications company.
The centers will be run by local entrepreneurs who will either invest their own money or be given access to small loans to cover set-up costs, which GrameenPhone estimates will be $800 to $1,400. The centers will be positioned to serve 15 villages and about 40,000 people and will have a computer, a Web cam, a printer, a scanner and other basic equipment. The Internet access will come by way of a connection to GrameenPhone's GSM mobile phone network, which can download data at about 128 kilobits per second, not quite broadband but faster than a dial-up connection.
USA
U.S. wireless companies are nearly all the same. Most wireless companies work off of two types of cellular towers. A combination all of the coverages of one type of tower across the nation forms a coverage area. The main competition between these companies, along with features and options, is having the most effective coverage over the most area.
Videos
Atif's Video, International School Dhaka
Personal Video about cellphones in Bangladesh and the use of wireless connectivity in education.
Current News
Taxing VOIP
It has recently proposed that VOIP service providers such as Vonage, Skype and others begin paying 10.9 percent of 65 percent of their income into the USF will be taxed. Networks like Skype and Vonage, which overall collects about $7 billion from interstate and international calls, is used to lessen the cost of providing phone services to poor customers unable to pay phoneUSA
Inserting test video
Resources:
http://encarta.msn.com - Global Positioning System," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2007
http://www.velki.com/link.asp?cat=148 - links to mobile vendors
http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/
Work Cited:
http://tinyurl.com/33928c
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/skype
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wireless
Editors
2006: Atif, Collin
2007: Sumner, Cassandra
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